By Amy Juelsgaard, Program Associate
The 2016 TechWomen Delegation trip to Washington D.C. kicked off yesterday morning with a visit to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for a briefing by the White House Council on Women and Girls. Deputy Executive Director Jordan Brooks and Policy Advisor Kalisha Dessources welcomed the Emerging Leaders and discussed the government-wide entity’s history and key initiative, Let Girls Learn. This initiative, launched by First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, aims to ensure access to education for girls around the world.
.@WhiteHouse Council on Women and Girls champion initiative to #letgirlslearn – https://t.co/NKFCWIJFW7 #techwomen16 pic.twitter.com/klmpccFlHL
— TechWomen (@TechWomen) October 13, 2016
Afterward, Emerging Leaders had the chance to hear about women’s involvement in technology and entrepreneurship from several speakers. Erin Andrew, Assistant Administrator for Women’s Business Ownership at the Small Business Administration, and Sarah Heck, Director for Global Engagement for the National Security Council, led a discussion about the hurdles female entrepreneurs face and the importance of empowering them to solve global challenges and increase economic prosperity.
Senior Policy Advisors Knatokie Ford and Quincy Brown joined Executive Director Afua Bruce of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to recognize the STEM stereotypes that women face and the need to change the dialogue in the media.
You, #techwomen16, are teaching our friends and colleagues about entrepreneurship and finding solutions. @SBAgov @NSC44 pic.twitter.com/rtnxo9hRkn
— TechWomen (@TechWomen) October 13, 2016
Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Evan Ryan, introduced the last speaker of the morning, Valerie Jarrett, the Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. Valerie delivered a motivational speech on the need for equal representation in the workforce and the challenges women face expressing their value and receiving professional recognition in a man’s world. Valerie shared how she has been about to improve the state of women by changing mindsets. “We’ve created an environment where you don’t have to pretend that the other life that you have outside of the office doesn’t exist,” Valeria said.
Businesses are better when women thrive. Companies need to break down cultural and structural barriers to women. @vj44 @TechWomen
— Sheila Casey (@SheilaDCasey) October 13, 2016
Afternoon sessions at the State Department
More than 50 mentors joined the delegation and met with the Emerging Leaders for lunch at the Lincoln Restaurant. After lunch, the group arrived at the U.S. Department of State for a conversation with Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, Catherine Novelli, and Assistant Secretary Evan Ryan. Evan asked Emerging Leaders to identify the most valuable thing they learned during the program. Diana Nassar of Jordan responded, “The fact that there are no limits, all of us are capable of achieving whatever we want.”
Conversation with @CathyNovelli and @ECA_AS on intersection of tech, energy and the environment #techwomen16 pic.twitter.com/oCLecCg2Ri
— TechWomen (@TechWomen) October 13, 2016
Jennifer Blum, the Vice President for Public Relations of the DC Chapter at the Association for Women in Science, discussed her organization’s mission to promote women in STEM fields across all disciplines. The final speaker to address the group was Ziad Haider, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs. Ziad explained why entrepreneurship is a core part of the work at the State Department given its ability to create jobs and enhance social value.
Ziad Haider US State quoted to @TechWomen “Entrepreneurship means success without unfair advantage.” #techwomen16 pic.twitter.com/VcJ3scSNJX
— Katy Dickinson (@katy_dickinson) October 13, 2016
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